Breeches



June 14, 1932- G. w. ROSENBERG BREECHES Filed June 5, 1931 Patented June 14, 1932 GORDON W. ROSENBEG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA BBEECEES Application filed June 5,

The present invention relates to improvements in breeches, and particularly to breeches forming part of uniforms 'or riding costumes-in which boots or puttees are used for covering the calf of the legs. The present application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 460,058, filed June 9, 1930.

The general object of this-invention is to provide breeches which can be quickly donned or removed by the wearer, and the calf portions of which readily adjust themselves to conform with the calf of the leg of the particular wearer and will have no tendency to creep up the leg.

In accordance with my invention, I accomplish the desired object by embodymg in the breeches a novel combination of features. To obtain the desired self-adjustability of the calf portions and also the desired ease in donning and removing the breeches, I propose to make the entire calf portions of elastic material and to use slide-fastening devices in combination with these portions, However, this combination of features alone, while providing the desired characteristics noted, is subject to the tendency of the calf portions of the breeches to creep up the leg of the wearer. To counteract and prevent this, I provide a non-elastic lower edge on the calf portions.

The invention also contemplates the incorporation of further features in combination with the slide-fastening devices. To prevent contact of the metallic slide-fastening devices with the leg of the wearer, which has heretofore caused considerable annoyance to wearers of breeches embodying such devices, particularly to those having considerable growth of hair on the legs, I provide a pro tecting flap beneath each slide-fastening device. A further feature of .the invention resides inthe provision of a flap adapted to conceal the upper part of th'e-slide-fastening cleviceswhich extends above the boots or puttees commonly worn with breeches.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more clearly apparent hereinafter. A clearer understanding of the invention maybe had from the follow- 1931. Serial No. 542,409. I

ing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation 0 a pair of breeches embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of one leg portion of the breeches showing clearly the novel features of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along line 33 of Fig. 2; and I Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View of a portion of Fig. 3.

Referring to the several views of the drawing and especially to Fig. 1, numeral 1 represents a pair of breeches having the upper portion thereof and the knee portion 2 formed of similar material, such as non-elastic fabric or leather. The lower leg or calf portions 3 are formed of elastic material such as elastic knitted fabric. The elastic portions 3 are joined to the lower edges of the knee portions by suitable stitching along lines 4, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. Thecalf portions 3 are of suflicient length to extend from the .lower edgesof the knee portions 2 to a point below the calf of the leg of the 7 .wearer, and terminate adjacent to theankle of the wearer. The elastic fabric, of which the calf portions 3 are formed, adapt the calf portions to snugly embrace the calves of the wearer and to expand so that the calf por tions will fitwearers of diflerent slzes, thus avoiding the necessity of fitting the calf portions of thebreeches to the exact size of the wearer. j

\ As shown clearly in Fig. 2, the calf portion 3 is formed with a vertical or long1t1' 1d 1- nal slit 5 therein which is provided with slidefastening device 6 for quickly opening and closing the same. The use of slideefasten ng devices facilitates greatly the donning or removing of the breeches, as "will be fully appreciated, and such devices further cooperate with the elastic calf portions to enable closing the slit therein over substantially its entire length. This novel combination of features provides the desired self-adjustablhty of the calfportions of the breeches to cause them to tightly embrace the calf of the leg of any particular wearer. However, the calf portions of the breeches have a tendency to 0 creep up the leg of the wearer, which causes considerable annoyance and detracts from the appearance of the breeches.

In order to prevent this tendency of the calf portions of the breeches to creep up the leg of the wearer, I provide a non-elastic 10wer edge 7 on the calf portions. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, this edge may 'take the form of a separate non-elastic strip which encircles and is suitably stitched to the lower edge of the elastic calf portion. It will be readily apparent, however, that this nonelastic edge may take other forms. For example, it could be made integral with the associated calf portion, non-elastic material being used to form the lower edge of such portion. Other forms, which this feature of the invention might take, will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art.

It is desired to emphasize the fact that the use of slide-fastening devices without having the calf portion of the breeches elastic presents much difliculty. It is absolutely necessary that the calf portions exactly fit the calves of the wearer if comfort, appearance, ease of donning and removing, and other desirable qualities are to be obtained. Without elastic calf portions, difiicult and costly alterations are necessary in casesof misfit. In practically every case, normal growth and expansion of leg muscles of the calf will necessitate such alterations. It is therefore apparent that the combination of slide-devices and elastic calf portions ise sential. Thenonelastic binder, which I pro ide to eliminate the afore-mentioned creeping tendency, does not require alteration because the locking device on the ordinary slide-fastening device allows for a normal variation at the extreme end. Thus, this feature serves its purpose without necessitating objectionable alteration.

It is important to note in this connection that when the breeches are donned by a person havinga large calf such that the open slit in the calf portions cannot be completely closed, the slide-fastening devices may be operated to close the slits as far as possible and the devices may then be locked. Since the slide-fastening devices are necessarily attached to inelastic strips along the slit edges,

the portions of these strips along the unclosed edges will form with the inelastic strip or edge 7 a continuous binding edge encircling the wearers calf. At the same time, the elastic calf portion of the breeches will adjust itself to the wearers calf. Thus, the novel combination of elements results in a garment which may be used by persons having differ; ent sized and shaped calves. This is particIT- larly important in cases where various persons successively use the same breeches. Many bus operating companies, service stations, etc. supply their employees with breeches, and with my improved garment the lus'trated in Figs. 3 and 4, to prevent contact of the slide-fastening devices with the leg of the wearer. As previously stated, such contact has heretofore caused muchannoyance to wearers of breeches embodying slidefastening devices. The protector flap is disposed along slit 5 behind the slide-fastening device and may take the form of a separate strip fastened along one edge of the slit. This strip may be formed of any suitable soft material that has a smooth and firm surface which will not be caught in the teeth or slide of the slide-fastening device. Obviously, any other form which this feature of the invention might take is contemplated and within the scope of the invention.

Since slide-fastening devices provided in breeches of the type contemplated by the invention are preferably of considerable length to facilitate the donning or removing of the I breeches, the upper portion of such devices are usually above the boots or puttees which are worn with the breeches. The visibility of these upperportions of the'slide-fastening devices is objectionable since it detracts from the appearance of thewearer. In accordance with the invention, I provide a novel concealing fiap 9 which is adapted to entirely conceal the upper portion of the slide-fastening devices, which would othefwise be visible above the boots .or puttees. As illustrated clearly in Fig. 4, this concealing flap preferably constitutes a part of the breeches proper and may be provided by utilizing the overlapping portions of the breeches along the. desired part of the side seam for this purpose. The fi-a-p is preferably provided with V-shaped stitching at the top part thereof, as illustrated clearly at 10 in Fig. 2. The edges of the flap are indicated by heavy lines in the operating tab of the slide-fastening when it is positioned beneath the flap. This arrangernent accomplishes the desired object without the necessity or encumbrance of three or four plies of material extending under the boot or puttee. Obviously, the length of this concealing flap may be made of any dimension to suit the particular manufacturer or user. Since the puttees or boots would normally cover the elastic calf portion of the breeches, the concealing flap is shown in the present instance as extending to the upper edge of such portion.

It will be apparent that the combination of novel features embodied in the breeches in accordance with the invention results in an improved article having the desired characteristics and advantages previously pointed out. Various changes and modifications may, of course, be made in the design and construction of the breeches and such changes are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim 1. A pair of breeches comprising knee portions, calf portions formed entirely of elastic material secured to the lower edges of said knee portions and terminating adjacent the ankle of the wearer in a non-elastic edge, said calf portions each having a longitudinal slit therein, and slide-fastening means on said calf portions adapted to close said slits, whereby said calf portions are self adjusting to conform with the calf of the wearer when said slide-fasteners are operated and said non-elastic edge preventscreeping of said calf portions.

2. A pair of breeches comprising knee portions, calf portions formed of elastic material secured to the lower edges of said knee portions and terminating adjacent to the ankle of the wearer, said calf portions each having a longitudinal slit therein, slide-fastening means on said calf portions adapted to close said slits, means for preventing contact of said slide-fastening means with the leg of the wearer, means for covering the upper part of said slide-fastening means to conceal said part extending above puttees or the like, and a non-elastic binder secured to the lower edge of said calf portions, whereby said calf portions are self adjusting'to conform with the calf of the wearer when said slidefasteners are operated and said binder prevents creeping of said calf-portions.

GORDON W. ROSENBERG. 

